YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED

We have a number of years of experience in taking overseas clients. Each year we take clients from all over the world, United States, Canada, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand and numbers are growing.

We no longer post brochures to overseas clients, and in fact we are running down the brochure. More detailed itineraries of tours can be found on this web site and a booking form can be downloaded from the web site. (Adobe Acrobat required)

1. Holiday Prices
Holiday prices are shown in £ Sterling and payment is required in £ Sterling. To give you an idea of the cost in your own curreny please use the current exchange rate for conversion.

2. How can I make a booking? (Overseas Clients)
Print off a booking form from the web site and fax it to us on (+44 113 28435 88 - 011 44 113 284 3588 from the USA) or email it to us.
Providing we have availability the booking will be registered at the time we receive your booking form. After that date you will have 5 days to get the 30% (non
refundable) deposit payment to ourselves by Sterling cheque. If we do not receive payment within 5 days your place will be released for sale.
** All Etape du Tour holidays require a 50% deposit.

How can I make a booking? (UK Clients)
Please complete a booking form for the tour you require. Then post the
booking form and a cheque for your 30% ( non refundable) deposit to our UK office.
** All Etape du Tour holidays require a 50% deposit.

If you are providing your own travel insurance you must complete and enclose the travel insurance disclaimer form with your booking form.
Click here to Download an Adobe Acrobat (PDF) version. (4kb)

3. How can we pay for our holiday? (Overseas Clients)
There are a 2 ways you can pay for your holiday:

1. Pounds Sterling cheque. You can arrange this at your bank. Then post along with the booking form to our UK office.

2. Credit Card / Debit Card Payment: (No surcharge for credit card or debit card payments) Then fax the booking form to our UK office.

Visa

Mastercard

American Express

For further details on booking a tour, please see the How to Book section below.

4. Where can I join the tour?
On tours which depart from the UK by coach, you can meet the coach at any of
our UK pick up points in Leeds, Manchester, Birmingham, London and service
stations on the motorway networks used.

The London pick up is usually at Holiday Inn, Victoria, London at 12.00hrs

5. Can I meet the tour in Paris?
On tours that overnight in Paris on the departure day, Yes you can meet the tour in Paris. We normally break the travelling with an overnight stay in Paris.
You can arrange to meet the group at our overnight hotel in Paris:

Novotel - Eiffel

61 quai de Grenelle
75015 PARIS
FRANCE
Tel : (+33)1/40582000
Fax : (+33)1/40582444
E-mail : H3546-RE4@accor.com

If you choose to meet the group in Paris, please indicate this on your booking form under PICK UP POINT REQUIRED.

We do not collect at Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport, unless stated on the tour itinerary

6. Is there a discount for meeting in Paris?
No since you will be taking a full fare passengers seat.

7. Can we hire bikes?
No, we don't hire bikes on our tours. If you wish to ride during the tour you must bring your own bike in a bike box or bike bag.

8. Can I bring my bike case?
Yes, bike cases/boxes and bike bags are allowed providing they fit within the following dimensions

Height: No more than 85cm
Width: No more than 30cm
Length: No more than 115cm

We have found that the Trico & Performance bike cases work well.

9. Do I need to take your travel insurance?
The travel insurance we sell can only be sold to UK citizens. You will need to take out your own travel insurance in your country. Please make sure that your travel insurance covers you adequately for the tour you are going on.

10. Are Children allowed?
We accept children on our tours who are over 8 years old. For our training camps we accept children of all ages.

On coach based tours, we only use coaches equipped with air conditioning, reclining seats, on board toilet, video and drinks dispenser.

BIKE TRANSPORT
On the following tours: (ALL TOUR DE FRANCE, GIRO, VUELTA) which allow bikes to be taken we will now be using specific bike carrying trailer, where by your bike is stored and carried safely whilst fully assembled. You will be able to store your bike case / bike bag at the first overnight hotel for the duration of the tour and collect it on the last night.

For the following tours: (ALL SPRING CLASSICS, ALL RANDONNEES, ETAPE DU TOUR, CLASSIC CYCLING EVENTS) we will be using a box trailer where your bike is stored safely in a bike cases / bike box, providing they fit within the following dimensions

Height: No more than 85cm
Width: No more than 30cm
Length: No more than 115cm

We have found that the Trico & Performance bike cases work well.

COACH SEATING
We operate a coach seat reservation system so that we can guarantee that parties of 2 or more will be seated together.

Your comfort is our priority throughout. SPORTING TOURS have made careful selection of all our hotels based on the convenience to venues and facilities offered.The quality of hotels are indicated in the tour itinerary. Most hotels selected are of a 3* standard minimum unless otherwise stated. Sometimes we are forced to use quality 2* hotels if there are no 3* hotels available within a convenient location to the venue. All rooms are equipped with private bath/shower and toilet, T.V. and telephone in the rooms.
Occasionally, it may be necessary to substitute one hotel for another of similar standard. Only in exceptional circumstances will we make such an alteration, but we reserve the right to do so.

1. What does Single, Twin & Double room mean?
Single room is a room for 1 person. There is normally a supplement for single room occupancy
Twin room is a room for 2 persons with 2 single beds in the room
Double room is a room for couples with 1 Large bed in the room

2. What if I am travelling by myself. Do I have to pay the single room supplement?
No. If you are travelling alone, don't be put off by expensive single room supplements, we can arrange for you to share with another member of the touring party who is also travelling alone. If you wish to share a room with another member of the touring party, please tick TWIN on the room type required box.

3. What does half board accommodation mean?
Half board accommodation means that evening meal, bed & breakfast are included in the price. Breakfast is normally of a help yourself buffet style if not otherwise stated. If breakfast is indicated as continental this means that only juice, bread, croissant & coffee will be provided.

Download a booking form and CLEARLY complete all sections of the booking form not forgetting to sign your agreement to the booking conditions. You are then required fax it to us (+44 113 28435 88 - 011 44 113 284 3588 from the USA) or email it to us.
Providing we have availability the booking will be registered at the time we receive your booking form. After that date you will have 5 days to get the 30% payment to ourselves by Sterling cheque.
If we do not receive payment within 5 days your place will be released for sale.
Bookings made within 8 weeks prior to the date of travel require full payment.

1. What happens after I have made a booking?
Upon receipt of your booking form and payment we shall send you a booking confirmation invoice showing the amount of deposit we have received and the remaining balance that is due and the date it is due by.

2. Do I receive a reminder for the final balance?
No we don't send reminders for the final balance. The final balance is due 8 weeks prior to the date of the trip and this date is indicated on the booking invoice receipt. Bookings may be cancelled if the final payment is not made by this date.

6 to 10 persons.......5%
11 to 15 persons.....10%
over 15 persons.......to be discussed with ourselves

In order to qualify for group discounts, 1booking form must be submitted with all the names of the people in the group together with 1 payment for the group deposit and 1 payment for the final payment.
Any additional names to the group after the initial group booking has been made will be charged at the normal price. There must be 1 lead name to which all correspondence is sent.

We strongly recommend all clients arrange travel insurance.  For your protection and peace of mind we have arranged a Special Coach Holiday Travel Insurance Scheme with AXA Insurance (UK) plc who are authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority

We summarise below the details of the insurance cover provided which also includes INTERNATIONAL MEDICAL RESCUE - 24-hour emergency service.  The following is a brief summary of the cover available.  Full details of Cover, Policy Warranties and Exclusions will be forwarded with your confirmation of booking.  In any event you may ask for a specimen copy of the Policy Wording before booking should you wish to examine this in advance.

            COVER                                                                                     SUM INSURED

            Cancellation                                                                              Up to £3,500

            Missed Departure/Travel Delay                                                    £600/£60

            Personal Accident                                                                      £15,000

            Medical and other Expenses including Curtailment                        £2,000,000

            Medical Inconvenience Benefit                                                     £450 (£15 per day)

            Personal Property/Loss of Passport                                             £1,500/£200

            Personal Liability                                                                       £2,000,000

            Delayed Baggage                                                                       £100

            Legal Expenses                                                                         £10,000

            14 day Refund – Cooling Off Period                                               Insurance Premium

POLICY EXCESS

Cancellation, Curtailment, Holiday Abandonment and Loss of Deposit for holidays up to and including 3 days NIL. For holidays over 3 days Loss of Deposit excess £10.00 each and every loss. For holidays over 3 days excess £35.00 each and every loss for Cancellation, Curtailment and Holiday Abandonment. Medical and Other Expenses, Personal Property and Money excess  £30.00 each and every incident per Insured Person.

CONDITIONS

It is a condition that at the time of taking out this Policy you must comply with each of the following:

1.         You are not aware of any reason why the trip should be cancelled or cut short (curtailed)

2.         You are not receiving   or awaiting treatment for an illness or injury as a hospital in-patient (as any claim arising from this injury or treatment will not be covered)

3.         You are not travelling

            (a)        Against the advice of a Medical Practitioner

            (b)        For the purpose of obtaining medical treatment or

            (c)        If you have been given a terminal prognosis

4.         If you have received medical treatment as a hospital in-patient or out-patient, during the six months prior to the booking of the trip, you must obtain medical advice from a Medical Practitioner at your cost confirming that you will be fit enough to take the trip

5.         If you are undergoing medical treatment as a hospital out-patient at the date that the final cost of the trip is due to be paid a “Certificate of Fitness” confirming your ability to travel must be obtained by you at your cost

6.         If you are on medication at the time of travel your medical condition is stable/well controlled

The Policy contains the following General Exclusions:

YOU ARE NOT COVERED for anything caused directly or indirectly by you suffering  from stress, anxiety or depression unless it has been investigated and diagnosed as such by a Consultant specialising in the relevant field, who must confirm in writing at your cost that you are fit enough to take this trip

You must notify the issuer of this Policy immediately of any of the conditions listed above arising between the date the policy is issued and the time of departure of the trip.

COOLING OFF PERIOD

You should read your policy immediately to ensure it meets with your requirements. If for any reason it does not it must be returned to the issuer of the policy within 14 days of the date of issue or prior to travel which ever is the sooner. Your money will be refunded in full , provided no claims have been made or incident likely to give rise to a claim has arisen. If you cancel your policy after 14 days no refund will be given.

Home